SNS

The Sao Pedro da Cadeira unit near Lisbon opened on Monday under Knok, a Portuguese telemedicine firm on a EUR2.4 million, five-year state contract, the SNS's first privately managed family health unit. It serves 5,463 patients, with Silves and Lagos next.

An overhaul of the SNS's National User Registry now ties family-doctor rights to three conditions — a vacancy, an 'updated' record and SNS use within five years. Emigrants and foreign residents risk losing their doctor and, without an updated record, the state co-payment on their medicines.